Inert atmosphere cooler for optical fibers and method of using the same.

摘要

In the manufacture of optical fibers, at least a portion of a preform of optical glass is heated into a molten state and drawn to create an optical fiber of the desired diameter. To cool the fiber during the drawing process and prior to coating thereof, the invention contemplates providing a cooling device with a laminar flow of inert gas therein to surround and cool the fiber.